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The Tottori Matsue Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, providing three consecutive days of unlimited travel on designated JR train lines along the Sea of Japan coast between Tottori, Matsue and Izumo, and tourist loop buses in Tottori and Matsue.
Validity
- Unlimited use of local, rapid and limited express JR trains in the coverage area shown on the map above.
- Seat reservations can be made for free (see details below).
- Unlimited use of the Gurutto Matsue Lake Line tourist loop bus in Matsue.
- Unlimited use of the Kirin Jishi tourist loop bus in Tottori.
- Free use of rental bicycles at designated Ekirin Kun outlets within the covered area.
- The pass is valid on three consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
- Only foreign visitors to Japan (with temporary visitor status) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
- The pass can be used only by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.
Points of sale
The Tottori Matsue Pass can be purchased through various websites, including the official JR West website, and at selected travel agents outside of Japan. The actual pass has to be picked up at a major station in the area covered before use, including Tottori, Matsue, Yonago or Sakaiminato stations, or at Kansai Airport, Osaka or Shin-Osaka stations. An advantage of purchasing the pass through the official website is that you can make seat reservations online, while others can make seat reservations only at ticket machines and offices.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations can be made at no additional cost at ticket offices. The first six reservations can alternatively be made at ticket machines, but subsequent reservations can be made only at ticket offices. Furthermore, those who purchased their pass through the official JR West website can also use the JR West website to make seat reservations, but the website is not very easy to use.
Assessment
The Tottori Matsue Pass can be a good value for those exploring Tottori, Matsue and Izumo by train. For example, it costs about the same as a regular one way ticket for a limited express train ride between Tottori and Matsue.
Alternative tickets
The JR Kansai Sanin Area Pass covers not only the region between Tottori and Matsue, but the entire Sanin coast in addition to the Kansai Region around Osaka and Kyoto.